On using "everything open"

The OpenCafe couldn't function without using and creating open source software or open content materials. Both are vital for us to run the cafe, and teach.

The cafe runs on Mandrake Linux, and uses software like GIMP, Mozilla, OpenOffice, Kopete, Ktouch, gFTP, Audacity (and many others), on the daily basis.

We also use open content material like the Wikipedia, Internet Archive, the LearnLinux manuals, Go_open, the Learning Commons, ccMixter, just to mention a few.

Using these materials encourage us to get used to the idea of sharing - sharing info, skills, training materials, project ideas, etc. and also it encourages us to make sure that we share the above with an international audience of friends, teachers, programmers, artists and everyone else.

Once we have started using open source software we were wondering how one could apply open principles to everything else - so we were very excited to discover the Creative Commons site and after more than a year of running various open projects - the benefits are unbelievable - all of us have learnt more skills than ever before in our lives - we have met the most amazing - open minded and wise people - and had parties that we will never forget.

Heather of Creative Commons SA has also written about the importance of using open source software and open content materials - visit her Hblog to read more.